Transmission mechanism



ams 23, s s faE. 2,645,495

TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Origifial Filed Sept. 10, 1932 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Ewme 23, 136. Y J. s. SHARPE 2,045,495

I TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 312m 23 1936. J. 5. sHARPE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 5 Shefcs-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 10, 1932 r an adjustment of said planetar O sion mechanism having automatic means for r tions to the low speed high torque positionsfolplanetary w Patented June 23, 1936 v y en ree STATES PATENT orifice" John S. Sharpe, Haverford, Pa.

Application September 10, 1932; Serial No. 632,592 Renewed August 9. 1935 11 Claims. (01. 74-285) This invention relates to improvements in mechanism while the said elements are in other transmission mechanisms of the general characthan the low speed positions. ter of those disclosed in my copending applica- A still further object of the invention is to tions Serial Numbers 440,755 and 628,721. provide a device for preventing undue strains In the first of the aforesaid applications, I or misadjustments of the elements of themech- 5 have disclosed a transmission mechanism emanism when momentarily the transmission of ploying planetary wheels or rollers operating in power through the mechanism is reversedfrom torroidal spaces between two coaxial rotary elethe normal direction, as hereinafter more fully ments, provision being made for obtaining varidescribed. j ations in speed and torque ratios of the'driving The invention further resides in certain 'meand driven shafts through adjustment of the chanical and structural details and features hereplanetary rollers between the two elements which inafter set forth and illustrated in the attached they engage and within the torroidal space to drawings, in which: thereby relatively vary the distances of the Figure l is a side elevational view of the transpoints of contact of each of the planetary wheels mission mechanism wherein the parts to which with the respective elements from the joint axis the present invention immediately relates are of the latter. shown in section;

In the second of the aforesaid applications, Fig. 2'is a longitudinal'sectional view showing I have disclosed a device for obtaining an autodetails of the mechanism not disclosed in- Fig. l; matic adjustment of the said planetary wheels Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-1-3, Fig; 1; I v or rollers to vary the torque ratio of the'driving Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, views in perand driven shafts controlled by the Velocity of the spective of coupling elements constituting eledriven shaft/- 7 ments of the mechanism;

By the present invention I provide a transmis- Fig. 6 is a reduced fragmentary plan view ilsion mechanism of the stated character inc orlustrating a detail of the mechanism; porating novel means for automatically varying. Fig. 7 is a section on the line ll-l, Fig. Land the torque ratios of the driving and driven shafts Fig. 8 is a reduced fragmentary view showing a in accordance with the load requirements, and brake-operating device. a

to this general end, the invention contemplates With reference to the drawings, the mechaprovision in the transmission of novel means for nism may be considered as comprising adriving wheels, as set forth shaft l and a driven shaft 2. As shown in Fig.

adjusting the planetary above, in accordance with the torque require- 2, the driving shaft I has at its inner end a lurality of planetary ments, whereby when a heavy load is placed upon spider 3 supporting a p the driven shaft there will automatically result wheels 4, one only of these wheels'beingillusy wheels affording trated. The wheels 4 operate in atorroidal space formed between elements 5 and 6, the element 5 the driven shaft, and vice versa. 7 being journaled on aninwardly projecting por- An object of the invention, therefore, in broad tion I of a rotary housing 8, which housing in terms is to provide a variable torque transmisturn is journaled in fixed bearings s and H. As

' illustrated at l2, the member 5 is in effect splined 40 varying the torque relation of the driving and to the housing 8 so that the said member and driven elements in accordance with the torque housing must necessarily rotate together while requirements. relative movement of these parts in the axial di- Another object of the invention is to provide rection is permitted. A spring I3 bearing against a novel and highly practical device for use with the outer face of the member 5 tends to force variable torque transmission mechanisms for regthe latter inwardly against the wheels 4 so that ulating the mechanism in accordance with the the'latter are confined between the members 5 torque requirements. and 6. 7 v:

Still another object of the invention is to The member 6 is carried by a shaft M which provide a transmission mechanism of the charis journaled in a hub extension l5 of a memacter described having means providing for rapid her [6 secured in the housing. This member l6 and easy adjustment of the transmission elewith the member 6 defines a second torroidal ments from the high speed or low torque posispace within which operates a second set of heels, (one only of these wheels beunted on a a greater transmitted torque from the driving to lowing an interruption in the operation of the ing shown), which wheels are mo '-:Serial Number 628,721.

spider l8 journaled on the hub extension l5 of the member l6 and connected through yokes l9 and an annulus 2|, by which said yokes are connected with the spider 3 which carries the planetary wheels 4. The wheels 4 and I! are mounted adjustably on their respective spiders so as to be adjustable in their respective torroidal spaces between the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 to reverse positions in which the distances of the points of contact of each of the wheels with the respective confining members from the axis of the shafts I and M :are

reversed. This adjustment of the wheels4 and I! known as precessing is effected in the 'present instance through longitudinal manipulation of a rod I 0 extending axially through the shaft I.

The shaft l4 carries a pinion 20 which :meshes with planetary pinions 22 journaled on -a spider 23 on the driven shaft 2. The planetary gears 22 also mesh with an annular gear 24 carried by the housing 8.

The mode of operation of the .aforedescri'bed mechanism comprising the planetary wheels 4 and -I-I and the manner in which these elements areadjusted in order-to vary the torqueandspeed ratios-of the driving and driven shafts is'fully described in my aforesaid pending application It is sufficient for an explanation of the present invention to state'that when the planetary wheels 4 and I! are in the "positions'in whichthey are shown in Fig.2, .a low speed high torque relation prevails between the driving and driven shafts, and as the wheels are progressively adjusted from this position into the reverse position in which theyiincline in the opposite "directions, the torque .and speed relation of the driving and driven shafts-approach unity, until when a position of effective 'balance' is reached, the driving and driven shafts together withthehousing and, in fact, the entire mechanism rotates as a unit in a .direct'drive relation be'tweenthedriving and driven shafts.

In accordance with the present invention, 1 provide the outer end .of the drive shaft I with a coupling comprising a member'ZB which is fixed to-the shaft through-splines 21'.and aset screw 28. "This couplingmember isillustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. A second coupling member 29, see Figs. 1 and 5, is loosely mounted upon the :extremity of the shaft I and interlocks with the member 26 through the medium of the jaws 31 =of-the member and 32 of the member 28. As

shown in Fig. 3, the jaws 3| and 32 rare of'such width .as to permit a certain limited free rotary movement between -the coupling members. The member 29 is held in position upon the shaft il through the medium of a nut33 on the threaded *endof the shaft, and the. member iszalsoprovided,

as shown in Fig. -5, :with .radial arms 34 through the medium of which the member .29 may be connectedflex'ibly with the shaft of a motoror'other source -of power. As shown in Fig. :1, a torsion spring '35 surrounds the interlocking portions of the coupling '26 '29, and this spring :35 is secured at one end to the member .26 and rat the other end to the member .29, asillustrated'at '36.and3:1

respectively. As shown in Fig. :1, the outer'extremity of the rod I extends radially throughan axial slot-38in the-shaft l and into aslot.39;inithe coupling member29, see Figs. 1 and 5, the slot 39 being formed at an angle to the axisofthe shaft .l. Through this inclined slot 39 the member .29 is adapted, when rotated with respect to the shaft 1,

to functionas a cam advancing or retracting the 'offset end of the rod 10 in the slot 38 andthereby longitudinally adjusting the said rod. As previously set forth, the adjustment of the rod 1 results in a precessional movement of the plane tary wheels 4 and I! and a resultant modification of the torque and speed relations of the driving and driven shafts.

Normally the spring 35 holds the coupling members 26 and 29 in the relative positions in which they areshown in Fig. 6, wherein the rod l0 occupies :a position adjacent the inner end of the slot 38. This is the position of the rod which normally corresponds to the high speed and low torque adjustment of the planetary wheels 4 and 1-1, see Fig. 2. Assuming now that power is applied to the shaft 1 through the coupling 2529 from a. source of power, and a load applied through a clutch (not shown) to the shaft 2, if this load is sufficiently heavy to cause a contrac tion of the spring 35, it is apparent that the rod l0 through the cam action of the coupling member 29 as previously described will be drawn to theright, considering Fig. '1, with the result that the planetary wheels 4 and I I will be. adjusted in a direction which if the elements 5, 5 and i6 'wereiinl'motion would effect a precessional movement' of these planetary wheels from the high speediposition, which they would normally occupy conditionswill-decrease, with the result that the torque applied to the-coupling member 29 will also decrease the spring :35, thus tending to re- :adjust the-coupling member 29 with respect to the member 26 towards their original positions, thereby effecting aniinward movement of the rod lfland an adjustment of :the wheels 4 and I? effecting :a gradual precessional movement of these wheels toward the high speed position which they originali-yoccupied.

Eventually the wheels 4 and I! having moved approximately :to theextreme high speed posia? :tion, the entire mechanism will rotate as a unit in a conditionzof direct drive between the source of .powerand the driven shaft. If for any reason the load :on the driven shaft 2 again increases, the resultant relative movement of the clutch .members 2.6 .and '29 will again result in a retraction of the rod 19 .and a readjustment of the wheels 34 and -:l:1 towardthe high torque position. It is apparent, therefore, that the torque relation between thedriving and driven shafts l and 2 and this mechanism is directly dependent upon the torque requirements-or upon the load applied to the driven shaft. With this device,.it is apparent thatwhen the-operation of the mechanism is interrupted, the planetary elements 4 and Il will havera tendencyto remain in the high speed low torque;positi0n, the rod .i0 being in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Assuming that :there is not sufi'icient power at theisource to set the driven shaft in motion againstcthe load-while :the planetary elements 4 and I1 .arein the low torque position, it is apparentthat provision must be made for returning these wheels to the low speed position before the mechanism zcan' be made to operate.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the housing 8 is surrounded by an annulus 4|, and that between this annulus and the housing there is provided a one-way roller clutch indicated at 42 and best shown in Fig. 7. This clutch, reference being had to Fig. '7, permits a counterclockwise movement of the housing 8 with respect to the annulus 4 I, but prevents a reverse movement. Operative on the annulus 4| is a band clutch 43 fixed to the stationary portion of the mechanism and operative through a lever 44 to immobilize the annulus 4| or to release it as may be desired.

As shown in Fig. '7, the two ends of the clutch band 43 are normally held together contracting the band upon the annulus 4| by springs 45, 45, and the said ends of the brake band may be separated against the pressure of the springs 45 through a cam 46 to which the lever 44 is connected, thereby releasing the brake. Normally the brake is applied to the annulus 4| to immobilize the latter. In a mechanism of this character it is essential under normal starting conditions that the planetary rollers 4 and ll be in the low speed high torque position and also to prevent reverse rotary movement of the hous ing 8. This is accomplished in the present instance as set forth above by immobilizing the annulus 4|, the clutch 42 then functioning to prevent said reverse rotation of the housing. This clutch 42, however, does not ,prevent'the normal rotation of the housing 8 which occurs when the transmission is adjusted to the normal direct or drive relation.

Assuming now that the planetary wheels 4 and I! are in the high speed position and that greater torques are required to move the load applied to the driven shaft 2 than can be obtained from the power source in this adjustment of the wheels 4 and H, by releasing the brake 43 and applying power through the mechanism against the load, an immediate precessional movement of the planetary wheels 4 and I1 is eifected which carries these wheels from the high speed low torque position of adjustment to the low'speed high torque position wherein the transmission mechanism is effective to move the load upon reapplication of the brake.

In order to prevent undue strains or adjustment of the planetary wheels 4 and I1 beyond the high speed low torque limit under conditions wherein the inertia of the load applied to the shaft 2 creates a driving force upon the shaft greater than the driving force applied to the shaft I from the source of power, I provide a one-way clutch mechanism between the housing 8 and the spider 23 of the driven shaft 2, this clutch mechanism being indicated at 5| in Figs. 1 and '7. It will be noted that this clutch permits, with reference to Fig. 7, a movement of the housing 8 in a clockwise direction with reference to the spider 23, but prevents the opposite or counterclockwise movement. This insures that under all circumstances the mechanism cannot exceed the one-to-one or direct drive relation between the shafts and 2, which precludes any possible misadjustment of the planetary wheels 4 and H. which might occur under the conditions previously set forth.

It will be understood that there may be other modification without departure from the invention.

I claim:

1. In transmission mechanism, the combination with driving and driven elements, of means connecting said elements and adjustable to vary the speed and torque relation thereof, means for coupling said driving element with a source of power, said coupling means comprising a sleeve loosely mounted for rotation on said shaft, means for limiting the angular movement of said sleeve 5 on the shaft, a spring connecting said sleeve with the shaft and normally opposing said angular movement, an operating rod for said adjustable means extending longitudinally and centrally through said drive shaft and terminating in a 10 longitudinal slot in the latter, a slot in said sleeve formed at an angle to the axis of said sleeve and registering with the slot in said shaft, and an element extending from the end of said operating rod outwardly through the said shaft slot and 15 into the slot in said sleeve whereby a relative rotational movement of the sleeve on the shaft results in a longitudinal adjustment oisaid rod and a corresponding adjustment of said speed and torque-varying means. 20

2. In transmission mechanism, the combination with opposed rotary elements and planetary members confined between and engaging said elements, said elements and members being relative'ly adjustable to vary the torque and speed 5 characteristics of said mechanism, means for automatically relatively adjusting said opposed elements and planetary members to vary the speed and torque characteristics in accordance with variations in the torque demands imposed upon the transmission, means for normally immobilizing one of said opposed elements from rotation in one direction, and means for releasing said element to permit rotation in either direction.

3. The combination with a planetary driven member, of a pair of coaxial rotary elements engaging opposite sides of said planetary member, a planetary driving member operative through one of said elements to exert a driving torque of predetermined magnitude upon said driven member and a lesser driving torque upon said driven {member through the other of said elements, means for preventing rotation of the last-named element in a direction reverse to the normal direction of rotation of the driving and driven 45 members, adjustable means for progressively decreasing and increasing said driving torques respectively to a condition .of effective balance wherein the said elements and driven member 50 tend to rotate as a unit in the same direction,

means for automatically actuating said adjustable means in accordance with variations in the torque demands imposed upon the driving member, and means for releasing said immobilizing means to permit a reverse adjustment of said adjustable means to their original position of 'unbalance.

4. The combination with a planetary driven member, of a pair of axial rotary elements engaging opposite sides of said planetary member, a planetary driving member, means for relatively adjusting said rotary elements and driving member to vary the speed and torque characteristics of said mechanism, said elements and members in one of the said positions of relative adjustment being adapted to rotate in one direction as a unit, and means for preventing rotation of the driven member in the reverse direction and with respect to said rotary elements.

5. The combination with a planetary driven member, of a pair of coaxial rotary elements engaging opposite sides of said planetary member, a planetary driving member operative through said elements to exert a driving torque upon said r driven member, means for adjusting said planet- 7 ary driving member with respect to said: elements to vary the speed and torque ratios of the driving and driven members, and means for automatically actuating said adjusting means in accordance with variations in the torque demands upon the driving member.

6. In transmission mechanism, the combination with opposed rotary elements and a planetary driving member confined between and engaging said elements, said elements and the driving member being relatively adjustable to vary the torque and speed characteristics of said mechanism, and means operatively associated with the driving member for automatically relatively adjusting said opposed elements and planetary driving member to vary their torque and speed relation in accordance with variations in the torque demands imposed upon the transmission.

7. The combination with a planetary driven member, of a pair of coaxial rotary elements engaging oppositesides of said planetary member,

a planetary driving member operative through said elements to exert a driving torque upon said driven member, said elements and the driving and driven members being mounted for rotation as a unit in one direction, means for preventing rotation of one of the rotary elements in the reverse direction, means for adjusting the planetary driving member between said elements to progressively increase and decrease the speed and torque ratios of the driving and driven members, and means for, automatically actuating said adjusting means in accordance with variations in the torque demands imposed upon the driving member.

8. The combination with planetary driving and driven members, of meansincluding independently rotatable elements operatively connected with both. of said members for transmitting opposed torques to the driven member from the driving member tending respectively to rotate the driven member in opposite directions about its axis, adjustable means for progressively relatively varying the magnitudes of said torques between a condition of substantial balance, wherein said elements and. members tend to rotate as a unit in one direction, and a condition of unbalance in which the torque imposed through one of said elements substantially exceeds the torque imposed through the other, means for preventing rotation of the last-named element in a direction reverse to the normal direction of rotation of the driving. and driven members, while permitting rotation. of said element in the said normal direction and means for releasing said rotation-preventing means to permit adjustment of said adjustable means from the position of balance to a position of unbalance.

9. The combination with planetary driving and driven members, of means including independently rotatable elements operatively connected with both. of said members for transmitting opposed torques to the driven member-from the driving member tending respectively to rotate the, driven member, in. opposite directions about its axis, adjustable means for. progressively relatively varying the magnitudes of said torques betweena condition ofv substantial balance, wherein said elements and members tend to rotate as a unit in one direction. and a condition of unbalance in which the torque imposed through one of said elements substantially exceeds the torque imposed through. the other, means for preventing rotation of the last-named element in a direction reverse to the normal direction of rotation of the driving and driven members, means for automatically actuating said adjustable means in accordance with variations in the torque demands imposed upon the driving member, and means for releasing said rotationrpreventing means to permit adjustment of said adjustable means from the saidv position; of balance to a position of unbalance.

10. The combination with planetary driving and driven members, of means including independently rotatable elements each operatively connected with both of said members for transmitting opposed torques to the drivenmember from the driving member tending respectively to rotate the driven member in opposite directions about its axis, adjustable means for progressively relatively varying the magnitudes of said torques between a condition of, substantial balance, wherein said elements and members tend to rotate as a unit in one direction, and a condition of unbalance in which the torque imposed through one of said elements substantially exceeds the torque imposed throughthe other, and means for preventing rotation of the driven member in a direction reverse to said unitary rotationand with respect to said rotatable elements.

11. The combination with planetary driving and driven members, of means including a pair of independently rotatable elements operatively connected with both of said members for transmitting opposed torques to the driven member from the driving member tending respectively to rotate the driven member in opposite directions about its axis, meansfor adjusting said planetary driving member with respect to said elements to vary the magnitudes of said torques between a conditionof substantial balance, wherein said elements and members tend to rotate as a unit in one direction, and a condition of unbalance in which the torque imposed through one of said elements substantially exceeds the torque imposed through the other, means for preventing rotation ofthe lastnamed element in a direction reverse to the normal direction of rotation of the driving and driven members, and means for automatically actuating said adjusting means in accordance with variations in the torque demands upon the driving member.

JOHN S. SHARPE. 

